Windgate neighbors in Naperville hang lights for Emily Driscoll

Volunteers from Home Depot in Naperville descended on Book Road Dec. 3 to light up the Windgate subdivision in honor of resident Emily Driscoll and her dog, Quincy.

Volunteers from Home Depot in Naperville descended on Book Road Dec. 3 to light up the Windgate subdivision in honor of resident Emily Driscoll and her dog, Quincy. (Jane Donahue/Chicago Tribune Media Group)

Emily Driscoll was a bright spot in the lives of those who knew her. So when word of her death spread throughout Windgate subdivision, neighbors agreed lighting up the street in her honor would be a fitting tribute.

Driscoll, 22, and her greyhound dog, Quincy, died Nov. 9 after being struck by a car while on a walk near her neighborhood at the intersection of Book Road and Rickert Drive.

“When the accident happened, we were trying to figure out what we could do (for the family),” said neighbor Jayne Rollins. “Their house is ‘the Christmas house,’ and every holiday season we would take multiple trips by there to see their decorations, as did a lot of families with small kids. Just being who they are, they added a lot of positive spirit to our neighborhood.”

With that in mind, neighbors decided this holiday season, they would decorate their parkway trees to support the Driscoll family in remembrance of Emily. They chose purple lights, because it was Emily’s favorite color.

“The world offers opportunities to meet many people, (and) we were lucky to have one of the best right down the street,” said Windgate resident Pam Miller. “Beautiful, fun, crazy, loyal and caring are words that come to mind when thinking about her. She made it easy to like her instantly and be grateful that you did.”

Windgate residents sent out emails and fliers to see who wanted to get involved. Many neighbors — who had never met Emily — wanted to pitch in. Rollins went to Home Depot to see if they could supply enough purple lights, and got them, and much more.

“After hearing about why they were doing it, I started thinking there is certainly a whole lot more I could do (besides offer lights,)” said Brian DePoister, Home Depot store manager. “I called Jayne back and said we (Home Depot volunteers) would hang the lights; it’s a simple gesture in my mind that felt like the right thing to do to help them out.”

On Dec. 3, DePoister and a team of more than 50 volunteers from the store showed up on Book Road to string about 40,000 lights on 100 trees for Emily and Quincy. It’s a simple reminder of the bright spot she was to many.

“Talented and certain of what she was after, Emily usually spoke her mind,” Miller said. “The ‘no-filter’ part was almost the best (part), right after her caring heart of gold. If you were lucky enough to be her friend, or to have just crossed paths with her when she was out walking Quincy, know that you met one of the best.”

Glenn Taylor, general manager of Sky High Sports in Naperville, where Driscoll worked since 2012, shared the sentiment.

“She was just a great person to be around,” said Taylor, 24. “She was a lot of fun, very spontaneous and outgoing, and just one of those people you instantly click with.”

Taylor said he thinks the lights in Windgate are a “great gesture and a good way to show the family she is remembered in a positive light.”

“Emily was always very cheery,” Taylor said “We are focusing on the good memories and the things she did and how much fun she was. We loved her, and she was a great friend to everybody. It has hit everyone hard here, and things just aren’t the same.”